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AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



Elder GEORGE N. THOMAS, 



MISSIONARY TO THE POOR. 




BOSTON: 

PRESS OF DELAND AND BARTA, 

ioi Milk Street. 

l88l. 



IT 



Copyright, 1881, 
Georse N. Thomas. 



The Library 
> Congress 



PREFACE 



The following work has been written at the 
request of a number of my friends, who were 
desirous to know the events that have been con- 
nected thus far with my pilgrimage through life. I 
have written nothing from prejudice to any 
people or individuals, but have stated events just 
as they have transpired, without saying who was 
in the error, if there was any. It is not probable 
that my course in life has been without fault ; but 
if, in any act I have erred, I can say with Paul, 
that I did it ignorantly, and not from ill-will to 
any one. 

I have tried, through life, to ascertain what 
God has required of me, and what my duty was ; 
for I did not wish to run before I was sent, or 
take a course different from that of others, to 
make myself notorious in the eyes of men, as 



I must answer to God, at the judgment-seat of 
Christ. 

I have been somewhat particular in giving the 
impressions of my mind, believing that others 
may have similar exercises, and not know from 
whence they proceed; hence they feel justified 
in resisting them, not realizing that they are 
from God. But in these days men are better 
taught than they were in my youth. They were 
then told to resist those feelings ; that it was 
enthusiasm and delusion which produced them. 
There were religious teachers who did not be- 
lieve in the new birth, or that it was possible 
for us to know our sins were forgiven ; and 
who thought that such a declaration was blas- 
phemy, so true is it that — 

" Blind unbelief is sure to err, 
And scan his works in vain ; 
God is his own Interpreter, 
And He will make it plain." 

I have, through all my life, labored under great 
disadvantage, from the want of a proper educa- 
tion. I have never been a day to school since 
the year 1819, but did attend a few evening 
schools in the year 1829. Our school-books at 



5 

that time were a Primer, Spelling-book, Arith- 
metic, and Smith's Grammar — which I had 
but slight chance of studying ; so, if the readers 
discover many errors, they must exercise that 
charity which covers a multitude of sins. 

GEO. N. THOMAS, 

Cambridgeport, Mass. 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



I was born in the town of Plymouth, county 
of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, May 28, 
1807. My father's name was Joab, and my 
mother's, before her marriage, was Lois Doten. 
They had eight children — four sons and four 
daughters, whose names were as follows : George 
Nelson, Nahum, Lois, Joab, Elizabeth Doten, 
Mary, Mary, and Daniel Doten. My first 
sister Mary died when she was one year and 
three months old. My brother, Daniel Doten, 
died in infancy. My parents belonged to no 
church, but respected the Sabbath. My mother 
was religious, and attended meetings as often as 
circumstances would permit. We were not al- 
lowed to range the fields, or play plays upon the 
Sabbath, for fear of the warden of the town, 
whose duty it was to look after Sabbath-breakers, 
and to maintain order upon the streets. At the 
age of fourteen years I was sent away to Fal- 
mouth, Massachusetts, to work for Capt. David 



Lewis, who was a tavern-keeper. The regular line 
of stages, running between Boston and Falmouth, 
put up at this tavern. My duty there was to 
serve Mr. Lewis, in doing general chores about 
the premises. While at this place thoughts ot 
home would enter my mind, and feeling at times 
somewhat lonely and sad over the death of my 
little sister led me to think of a higher and bet- 
ter life. As my thoughts were turned in this 
direction, I much desired to find some person with 
whom I could receive some religious instruction ; 
and upon hearing that there would be held, at a 
house a few doors from the tavern, a meeting for 
religious services, under the auspices of the 
Congregationalists, one evening, I resolved to 
attend, hoping thereby to gain some further light. 
The meeting proceeded and ended ; and as no 
one spoke a word to me, I went out as I came in. 
After some time these impressions passed away. 
I returned home to Plymouth, after some ten 
months' service with Capt. Lewis. After spend- 
ing a short time there, I was sent to my cousin, 
Joseph Boylston, at Hanson, where I obtained 
religious instruction, as he was a deacon of the 
Baptist denomination, and a very devout man 



indeed. I served some four months with him, 
and returned again to Plymouth. I then went to 
Middleborough, to make a visit to my uncle, 
Daniel Doten, and his family. There I did 
chores for them, until he obtained a place for me 
to work, which was at the Old Washington Fur- 
nace, at Wareham. There I learned to cut nails, 
by the turning of a plate. While there I learned 
of meetings of a religious nature, being held 
near the village, and a number of young men in 
the same employ, and working near me, resolved 
to attend in the evening, and I was included with 
the number. We attended, and listened to a 
faithful discourse, delivered by Elder Whitten. 
As soon as he had finished, a lady arose and 
addressed the people in a very earnest a >d 
faithful manner, and appealed to the young 
men present with me, who were scoffing, laugh- 
ing, and making light of the service. This 
served to impress my mind more and more, and 
I would that I were not in such company. The 
next day — while by myself, I having a few 
leisure moments — I resolved then and thereto 
begin a new life. In a short time, my health 
failing, I returned to my home in Plymouth. 



There I retired to my chamber, and taking the 
Bible to read, meditated, and asked God to show 
me the way of salvation. After a few weeks at 
home, I learned of revival meetings being held 
at Eel River, now called Chiltonville, and I de- 
cided to attend them. At the first meeting 
I felt very much impressed by my condition, 
from the remarks made by the pastor, Rev. Benj . 
Whittemore, and also the personal efforts of a 
young convert, an acquaintance of mine, who 
asked me what I th >ught of this subject. I told 
him I thought well of it, and he asked me if he 
should offer prayer for me. I answering him 
in the affirmative, we knelt down together, and 
he prayed for me. I returned home very much 
impressed, but could not get any relief that 
day. The following day — it being the day cele- 
brated in remembrance of the landing of the 
Pilgrims, which was the 22cl of December, 1823 — 
there were services held at the church. And 
upon this morning I was sent, by my dear mother, 
upon an errand, and was obliged to pass near 
the burial place of my ancestors ; and having 
been previously informed that many of them died 
happy in the Lord, and that, although their bodies 



[0 



were resting there, their spirits had gone to God 
who gave them, it caused me to ask myself, Is 
there any mercy for me ? And just at that mo- 
ment I looked upward, and seemed to see 
chains of mercy hanging over the town, pointing 
towards all believers, and one pointing to me ; 
and I asked, Is that for me ? when behold ! my 
burden was gone, and my tears dried up. I then 
inquired of myself, What does all this mean ? A 
voice appeared to answer, " You are given over 
to hardness of heart, and a reprobate mind, so 
now give this all up and go back." Then I re- 
plied, like those of old, " If I stay here I shall 
die, and if I go back I shall die ; and I can but 
die if I go on, so I will go on, and die begging 
for mercy." Now, after completing the errand of 
this morning, which I was upon, I returned to 
my mother, and, with her kind permission, has- 
tened to the place of the meeting I had attended 
the night before, as services were being held 
there that day. When I arrived I was met by 
my young friend of the previous evening, who 
made some inquiries as to my thoughts or inten- 
tions, and remarked, " You look different ! " I 
replied, " Surely I do feel different, but cannot 



tell what it is," when something said, " You are 
trying to make it appear to this man that you 
have got religion, when you have not. You are 
a hypocrite, surely ! " I then replied to this, " If 
I stay here I shall die. If I go back I shall die. 
I will press on." In the afternoon of that day a 
meeting was held at the house of Deacon 
Morton, which I attended. It was an experience 
meeting, and when called upon to give my expe- 
rience, I answered, " I have none to give ! " So 
I remained still in doubt in my mind. In the 
evening I attended a meeting at the old school- 
house, and while there was "led to think over 
my past life, and I said, " The Lord has been 
good to me all my days, and I have no cause for 
sinning against him. Now it would be just and 
right should he cast me off forever ! " Then the 
impression came upon me to kneel down and 
pray to God for mercy ; and I cried thrice, " Oh 
God ! be merciful to me, a sinner ! " Then the 
friends around me began singing — 



fi ()h, how happy are they 
Who their Saviour obey, 

And have laid up their treasure above, 
Tongue can never express 
The sweet comfort and peace 

Of a soul in its earliest love." 



My poor heart beat in unison with the sentiment 
of that hymn. The meeting soon closed, and, as 
I came out, I looked up and saw the moon so 
brightly shining that I remarked to my uncle, Isaac 
Drew, who came home with me, that it must be 
a new moon, as I had never seen one look like that 
before ; when he replied, " That is the same old 
moon, but you see it with new eyes." 

Everything around me appeared to be changed 
wonderfully, and my heart seemed to leap for 
joy. Surely " old things had passed away, and all 
things become new." The heavens seemed to 
" declare the glory of God." When I reached my 
father's house, I said to father and mother, " I 
have found my Saviour. Can I pray here?" and 
mother said, " Yes." Then I commenced prayer, 
and prayed that night, and in the morning some- 
thing said to me, " You feel differently from what 
you did last night. You have slept your religion 
all away." Then I dropped on my knees and 
prayed to the Lord, and He blessed me, and filled 
my heart with peace and joy, and the same im- 
pressions returned. After a few morning and 
evening prayers at home my father became 
displeased, and said he " could not have me pray- 



13 



ing in the house, as it was, to him, like taking a 
whipping." So I went outside and prayed. 
Some neighbors, upon hearing me, reported that 
" Thomas had turned his boy out-of-doors for pray- 
ing." This getting to the ears of one of the neigh- 
bors, who was going for meat to the market 
where my father was tending a stall, he ac- 
costed a gentleman present with, " I have 
heard something new this morning. They 
say that Thomas, here, has turned his boy out-of- 
doors for praying, which is the last thing I should 
think afather would turn his boy out-of-doors for." 
That night, upon father's arrival home, he said 
to mother, " Tell that boy to come in and pray in 
the house, as the whipping I get down town is a 
great deal worse than 't is to hear him pray. So 
let him in." Then I began praying night and 
morning in the family, with perfect freedom, and 
God blessed me 

The meetings at Chiltonville I attended for a 
while, until propositions were made about join- 
ing the church. I began to inquire of the Lord, 
and searched the scriptures in regard to baptism ; 
and I found that nothing would satisfy my con- 
science except baptism by immersion. And when 



14 

it became known to the pastor of that church 
(which was Congregationalist, it being the only 
church in the place) what my decision was, the 
pastor stated he could not agree with me ; and 
that, if I wished to be immersed, I must go else- 
where and join. So, in accordance with this, I 
became acquainted with the Christian denomina- 
tion, and preparations were accordingly made for 
my baptism, and acceptance into their church at 
Plymouth, which took place in May, 1824, by 
Elder Moses Howe, from New Bedford. Upon 
it being reported to my father that I was to be 
baptized by immersion, at the sea-shore, he was 
greatly opposed, and stated to mother, " that he 
would meet me on the shore with a cowhide, and 
thrash me if I persisted!' But, at the time of 
my baptism, instead of my father being present, 
he was suddenly called away on business, some 
fifteen or more miles from town. How. true 
these words, that " what man proposes God dis- 
poses." 

I then left Plymouth and journeyed to New 
Bedford on foot, I being a poor boy, and called 
at the house of Rev. Harvey Sullens, which, by 
his direction, I made my home until he could 



15 

find employment for me, which was but a short 
time after, I being successful in obtaining a 
situation v/ith Mr. George Brayton, a cooper, 
apprenticing myself to him for three years. 
While with Mr. Brayton, at New Bedford, I at- 
tended an evening school for two or more months. 
While attending the school, my interest in relig- 
ious matters somewhat declined, until one day a 
shopmate came to me, and, placing his hand upon 
my shoulder, with tears in his eyes, would have 
spoken, but failed to utter a word. But I under- 
stood the deep distress of his mind, for he desired 
my prayers. I then began to see just where I 
stood, and I felt unprepared to present his case 
before the Lord. So I said to him, " Where are 
you going to-night ? " And he, in answering me, 
said, "Wherever you say." To which I replied, 
" Then we will go to a band meeting of brethren, 
who meet to pray, and I will present your case, 
and mine also, before them." On the presenting 
of our cases before these brethren, it awakened 
such a deep interest in their minds that there 
was some praying done, and he received peace 
in believing, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and I 
received then a fresh baptism of the Holy Ghost, 



1^ 



which has remained a comforter to me these 
fifty-seven years. At this time I made my vows 
anew to the Lord, that I would be henceforth 
his faithful servant. The very next Sabbath, 
while in attendance at the Christian Church, and 
listening to the sermon preached by Elder Chas. 
Morgridge, a passage of scripture came to my 
mind, which was this : " Awake thou that sleep- 
est, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall 
give thee light ; " which was so impressed upon 
my mind that I felt it my duty, at the close of 
the sermon, to arise in my seat and repeat it. 
I did so, much to the gratification of the older 
brethren and sisters, who gathered around me. 
From this a revival began, and some three hun- 
dred souls were converted to God — mostly 
young men. During this time I was in attend- 
ance at the Christian Church, and for a year or 
more was employed by the committee of the 
church, as its sexton. 

While this revival spirit was being manifested 
in our meetings, I began to think of my home, 
and my father's lost condition — as an uncon- 
verted man. And having a message come to 
me for him, I felt it my duty to go at once 



i7 

to Plymouth, some thirty-one miles away, and 
deliver it. But before going, I must get some 
one to fill my place as sexton, and get Mr. Bray- 
ton's permit, I being an apprentice to him. Now 
I said, " If some one will accept my position cheer- 
fully, for a few days, and my employer will also 
cheerfully grant the desired permit, I shall take 
it to be an evidence that it is my duty to go." 
The first person I spoke to gladly consented to 
take my place as sexton, and getting the consent 
of Mr. Brayton, which was very cheerfully 
given, I started for Plymouth, to see my father. 
On arriving home, my father soon came into the 
room, and, appearing surprised at seeing me pres- 
ent, inquired how it was I had so soon returned, 
it having been but a fortnight since I was at 
home. I replied thus : " Father, I have come 
to deliver a message to you, and you must con- 
sider what a cross it is for me to so address my 
father. The first thing to consider is, the great re- 
ligious privileges of your life, and to take up finally 
the terrible lamentation, that ' the harvest is 
past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not 
saved.' " He appeared very much moved at this, 
and trembled greatly, and I said, " This is my 



[8 



message ; let us pray." And he kneeling beside 
me, I prayed for him. I soon after left him and 
returned to New Bedford. A clay or two after 
my arrival at New Bedford, I received a letter 
from my mother, stating that father was under 
great distress of mind, and that she had called 
upon several of the clergymen of the town to 
pray with him. He soon after this found peace. 
I listened to his testimony, witnessed his baptism, 
and also his acceptance into the Christian Church. 
He lived many years, a constant attendant upon 
the means of grace, and finally passed away, with 
a smile upon his face, to where I trust he will ever 
be at rest. 

After serving my three years' apprenticeship 
with Mr. Bray ton, at New Bedford, I worked in 
the shop as a journeyman, for some time ; and 
during this time (the year 1829) I was united in 
marriage, at Plymouth, with Miss Lucy, daughter 
of Capt. Nathaniel and Elizabeth Holmes, and set- 
tled in New Bedford. While working at my trade 
one day, about two months after, I received a 
serious injury, which unfitted me for further work 
of that kind. I was therefore compelled to re- 
move to Plymouth. After I had re-located there, 



I renewed my religious labors with the Christian 
Church. For nearly six years I could do no 
laborious work ; but, after regaining my health 
somewhat, I engaged to work at my trade, as 
a cooper, for the Plymouth Whaling Company, 
Mr. James Bartlett superintendent, this being 
about the year 1836. After one year's service 
-for this company the business failed, and I en- 
gaged myself to the Robbins Cordage Com- 
pany, Mr. Josiah Robbins superintendent, as 
its teamster, to transport, by wagon, their cord- 
age from point to point, viz : Plymouth, to New 
Bedford, Taunton, Fall River, Boston, in Massa- 
chusetts, and Warren, Rhode Island. 

I worked for the Cordage Company nearly 
ten years, and during this time many incidents 
happened, which will, perhaps, interest the reader. 
During these years there were no railroad facilities 
between these points and Plymouth. But about 
the year 1845, the Old Colony Railroad was built 
between this town and Boston. 

I worked for the Cordage Company through 
the day, and for the dear Lord every night. 
Wherever I happened to be a meeting had to be 
held. As at the beginning of my christian expe- 



rience, I had strong convictions of mind that I 
ought to hold public meetings in the name of 
the Lord. My impressions were such, from time 
to time, that I could not refrain from making an 
outward expression to my fellow-men ; and there 
would come very forcibly to my mind, such 
passages of scripture as the following : " Unto 
you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of 
men," which may be found in Proverbs, chapter 
viii., verse 4 ; and another : " Faithful is He 
who calleth you, who also will do it." This may 
be found in I. Thessalonians, chapter v., and 
verse 24. From these, and many others, my 
mind was very much exercised, as to the lost 
condition of my fellow-men. My first meetings, 
publicly held, were in the years 1834-5, at 
South Ponds and Chiltonville. In the years 
1835-6 I was called to labor in the north part of 
the town of Plymouth, where I was greatly 
blessed' in my labors — some twenty or more 
souls being converted to God, several heads of 
families among the rich, as well as the poor. 
While laboring there with this people I was 
called to visit Wrentham, on some secular 
business, for a clay ; and it being on a Saturday 



21 



evening, and being obliged to stop over the Sab- 
bath, I made inquiries for a Christian Church, 
and was told that about two miles beyond, in 
West Mansfield, was a church of that denomina- 
tion. I was called upon, soon after arriving 
there, by Brother Horace Skinner, who was one 
of the leading men of that society, and invited 
to preach to the people, as they were without a 
pastor. Accepting the invitation, I preached 
that day, and at the close of the services was 
asked by Brother Skinner if I would become 
their pastor. My reply was : "I cannot leave 
my present field of labor in the north part of 
the town of Plymouth, as God is wonderfully 
blessing me there." I returned to Plymouth on 
the following day, and began my labors with 
fresh zeal, for the salvation of precious souls. 
To show, in a moral point of view, that some 
good had been wrought, I quote a remark made 
by Supt. B. Spooner, of the Plymouth Cord- 
age Company, which was located in that part of 
the town, that "the sounds of shot-gun, ham- 
mer, and saw, upon the Sabbath day, have ceased." 
I continued these meetings for some two or more 
years, and would, in all probability, have con- 



22 



tinued them longer, had it not been for a 
brother of the Methodist denomination, who came 
among the people, and formed a class-meeting. 
I was invited by him to join it, but as I could 
not feel it my duty to do this, and did not wish 
any disunion, I withdrew, and other fields of 
labor opened to me. 

As my business for the Cordage Company fre- 
quently called me to New Bedford, I would attend 
the evening meetings in that city ; and one inci- 
dent I wish to relate, in connection with these 
meetings. It was at a time when Elder Knapp 
was holding revival services, that a lady, under 
deep impression of mind, called upon him, and 
stated to him that her husband, a very set and 
stern man, opposed her attending these meetings, 
and that, if she persisted, he would turn her out- 
of-doors. " Now what am 1 to do ? " He replied : 
"Do your duty, and God will take care of you, 
and your husband also." She accepted this ad- 
vice, attended to her duty, God blessed her, and 
she came out a shining light. Returning home, she 
told her husband that she had found her Saviour, 
which would make her none the less a faithful 
wife and mother. He excused the matter for a 



. 23 

time, or until she spoke to him in regard to joining 
the church, and baptism, when he was thoroughly 
aroused at that, and strongly threatened her, say- 
ing he would surely turn her out-of-doors : " As, 
standing as well in society as we do, it would dis- 
grace us, and I will not tolerate it." Being per- 
plexed, she again called upon the elder for ad- 
vice, and he advised her, just the same as before, 
to " do your duty, and God will overrule for you." 
She was baptised, and returned to her home, and 
was met by her husband, who acknowledged he 
was wrong, and that he believed she had acted 
conscientiously in this matter ; and he desired her 
forgiveness and asked her prayers, for he felt 
that he was a miserable sinner. Prayers were 
offered for him by her, and in the meantime 
his case was made a special subject of prayer, 
by the elder and people, that God would over- 
rule for her, and convict and convert him. I 
was present on the evening that this man, 
who had been so great a sceptic, came for- 
ward to the altar for prayers. He was converted, 
and I listened to his first testimony for Jesus. 
He made his confession, and stated how opposed 
he had been to his wife ; but now could say that 



2 4 

he was a happy man, for he had never known 
what happiness was before ; and that henceforth 
he would be found on the Lord's side. 

The meetings held at that time, under the 
charge of Elder Knapp, were a blessing to the 
people at large. Not only a blessing to his own 
church, but to other churches around him. 

I have previously stated that I was joined in 
marriage to Miss Lucy Holmes, of Plymouth, in 
the year 1829 ; and up to the present time, 1881, 
I have never regretted the step I then took — as 
she has been a help-meet to me all these years. 
She has been the mother of seven children, six 
sons and one daughter, whose names are George 
Nelson, Nathaniel James, Lucy Mary, James 
Augustus, Isaac Drew, Luther Baker, Nathaniel 
Holmes. Nathaniel James lived until he was 
four months and fourteen days old, when he was 
taken sick with phlegm stoppage, and died after 
an illness of two days. Lucy Mary lived until 
she was nine months and seven days old, when 
she was taken sick with scarlet fever, and died 
after an illness of two days. Luther Baker died 
at birth. Our four remaining children have ar- 
rived at manhood. George N. and James A. are 



25 

in Boston, Isaac D. is in Cambridgeport, and 
Nathaniel H. is in Chelsea. Thus our family is 
scattered. They are all married, and have fami- 
lies. We have been blessed with twenty-five 
grand-children, fourteen of whom are still living ; 
and four great-grand-children, three of whom 
are living at the present time. 

I remember nothing of special interest to re- 
late, as taking place between the years 1836 to 
1840. In the year 1840, in some parts of 
the country, the doctrine of the speedy coming of 
Christ was promulgated ; but not until the year 
1843 was this doctrine preached in Plymouth, 
and then by Rev. Wm. Miller, whereby many 
minds were stirred, and many more there were 
who believed this. My views upon this subject 
were very different, as I could not agree with 
Bro. Miller and others upon the Lord's coming 
at this time. These passages of scripture im- 
pressed my mind very forcibly at times, that 
" Of that day and that hour knoweth no man," 
and " Occupy till I come." I was considered 
to be quite unwise by some — and vexed others 
— by my remarks upon the subject of " wisdom," 
with reference to these words, " The wise shall 



26 



understand." My view was this : that those 
who understood were those who departed from 
evil ; and that the fear of the Lord was the be- 
ginning of wisdom, and to depart from evil was 
understanding, as is expressed by Peter, in the 
house of Cornelius. " Then Peter opened his 
mouth and said, of a truth, I perceive that God 
is no respecter of persons, but in every nation, 
he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, 
is accepted with Him." 

Five years previous to, and including the year 
1850, I labored at South Plymouth for the sal- 
vation of precious souls — with marked success — 
holding weekly meetings at that place. While 
conducting these services I was called to the 
bedside of a very sick, irreligious man, by the 
name of Brayley, who requested me to pray 
with him, which I did frequently ; resulting finally 
in his conversion to God, and also the regaining 
of his health, and becoming an instrument in 
the Master's hands of leading many of the neigh- 
bors around him to love and serve Jesus, his 
Saviour and Redeemer.- A deep religious interest 
was manifested in this district, and great good 
was done there. 



27 

In the year 1850, Rev. H. L. Hastings came 
to Plymouth, and labored for some two years and 
six months with the Christian Church of that 
town. The Lord wonderfully blessed him in his 
labors to win souls to Christ, for very many there 
were who became converted through his minis- 
trations. Why I speak of this is, because Bro. 
H. and myself worked together for some three 
months, holding meetings in the southerly part 
of the town nearly every week ; and nightly were 
seen seeking souls at the altar. Great interest 
was manifested by the people, as they would come 
from miles around to attend these meetings. 
My friend and brother, Thomas Caswell, at this 
time renewed his choice to serve God the re- 
mainder of his days, and two of his children be- 
came converted, accepting his Saviour as their 
own. 

In the spring of the year 1853 I was waited 
upon by William Thomas, Esq., an influential 
citizen of the town, in regard to the holding of 
Sabbath services among the prisoners at the 
Plymouth County House of Correction. He 
urged me to begin and continue them every 
Sabbath as its chaplain, which I consented to 



28 



do ; and began such services in the early part 
of the summer of that year, and continued them 
each Sabbath morning, and ofttimes in the 
afternoon, until the autumn of the year 1861, 
when I ceased to be its chaplain by reason of my 
removal from that town to the city of Boston. 
While I was connected with this institution I 
organized a Bible class, and had the co-oper- 
ation and valuable assistance of Bro. Justus Har- 
low, in carrying on these religious exercises 
among so large a number of prisoners within 
the walls. I believe the dear Lord blessed me 
in this labor of love, as an incident in connection 
with the same will show, which I deem worthy 
to relate. It happened in this wise. Some 
years after my arrival in Boston, and while cross- 
ing over Boston Common, I was accosted by a 
young man with the inquiry, " Do you know 
me, sir?" I replied, " Your countenance looks 
familiar to me, but I cannot recall to mind where 
we have met each other." He replied, "Do you 
remember the House of Correction in Plymouth, 
Massachusetts ? Well, sir, I was an inmate of 
that institution for a term, and words spoken by 
you in that prison have made a good impression 



2 9 

upon my mind, for they have followed me contin- 
ually, and I have been a far different man since my 
release. I am now leading a better life, and 
located in business in this city ! " 

As I have before stated, I removed from Ply- 
mouth to Boston in the autumn of the year 
1 86 1. The immediate cause of this removal was 
in consequence of my sons preceding me, locating 
in business there, and being very desirous that 
I should reside with them ; but a large number 
of the leading citizens of Old Plymouth wished 
me to still continue my residence there, and 
labor with them in the cause of Christ. I 
thought it my duty to remove, and did so, 
finding soon after my arrival in Boston a 
wide field of labor, as I quickly became identified 
with the Old South prayer-meetings — so called 
— then being held daily, which were highly inter- 
esting. Shortly after my appearance among 
these brethren, I was appointed as one of a com- 
mittee of six — of the denominations then rep- 
resented — to conduct these daily services. So, 
in this position, I soon became acquainted with 
a very large number of people of all classes. 

I will relate an incident in connection with 



3Q 

these meetings at the Old South, which I think 
will not be amiss, and will prove interesting and 
possibly instructive to some dear reader. I 
became acquainted with a sea-captain's family, 
comprising a mother and her two children, who 
had lately been converted to God, while the 
husband and father was absent at sea upon a 
long voyage. This man was a very hard man, 
and a great opposer of all religious matters. 
On his return to his family, finding that so 
great a change had taken place in his absence, 
he was greatly incensed thereby. Soon after 
I called upon them, and was introduced to 
him by his wife. After the introduction was 
over I said to him, "I wish to converse with 
you upon the subject of religion." To which 
he replied, " I have heard quite enough of 
that ! I have heard scarce anything else since 
my return ! " and, shaking his fist at me, bade me 
depart from the house. To which I replied, 
" Although you will not converse with me upon 
this subject, you could have no objections to 
my praying for you ? " He answered, " You 
may pray as much as you please," and immedi- 
ately left the room. I then said to his wife, " I 



3* 



presume I must leave now." She answered, 
"Not until you have offered prayer." I replied, 
" If I am to offer prayer before I leave this house, 
I will await the return of the captain," and did 
so ; and upon his return I thanked him that he 
had no objections to my praying, but would ask 
one more favor ; " which is, that I may be 
allowed to pray in your hearing." He con- 
sented, and I knelt down and offered a prayer in 
his behalf, reminding him of the care of his 
heavenly Father over him when his ship was 
wrecked upon a coral reef, and of the timely rescue 
of seventeen souls in a peculiar manner — 
namely, the main-top-sail yard jutting over a rock 
to form a bridge to the main land, and the safe 
passage of all ; the manner of carrying a sick wife 
— upon a bed constructed of brush — a distance 
of seventeen miles, to the nearest habitation ; and 
also of his safe return home again from another 
voyage, all showing God's great mercy to him. 
I prayed, " Now, Lord, touch his heart with the 
finger of thy love, and lead him to seek thy face." 
When I had concluded my prayer, and had 
arisen from my knees, I found he had been 

moved somewhat, and was in tears. I then 
2* 



32 

left, and for some days after did not see 
him, being detained at my home in consequence 
of a bad cold. When I did meet him it was 
at the Old South prayer-meeting ; and upon 
seeing me he put out his hand and shook 
mine cordially, and said : " Bro. Thomas, I am 
a new man ; for ' old things have passed away, 
and all things have become new ! ' ' He very 
cordially invited me to visit his house, which invi- 
tation I accepted, and accompanied him home, 
greatly rejoicing with him in his conversion to 
and the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as 
his guide henceforth through life. I had the 
pleasure many times of listening to his testimony 
for the Lord, but he soon after removed to Phil- 
adelphia. 

At about this time there was a revival in 
progress at the Zion " Bethel " church, on Joy 
Street, which I had the pleasure of visiting ; and 
in the space of one hour I listened to the 
testimonies of eighty young converts. An inci- 
dent in connection with the Old Ladies' Home 
(colored) on Myrtle Street, I will relate ; that of 
a very aged lady, of about 107 years, who, when 
I visited the Home on this occasion, stated she 



33 

was very glad to have me call upon them, and 
hold services there with them. It was something 
unusual for a stranger to do this. These 
meetings were generally attended by all the old 
ladies, who would gather in one room ; and all 
of them would take active part in the services 
by witnessing for Jesus. Blessed times those 
were, and it was indeed good to be there ! I 
attended, also, services with Bro. R. F. Maxwell, 
at the Old Ladies' Home on Revere Street. 
Bro. Maxwell was an earnest worker in the cause 
of Christ, and had charge of the meetings for a 
long time at these two Homes. Many precious 
seasons we have enjoyed together in the vine- 
yard of the blessed Master. 

An incident I will relate in connection with 
Father Taylor's Bethel in North Square. It was 
in this wise. My brother Nahum — who was a 
sea-captain — had arrived in Boston from a voy- 
age, and invited me to go with him to a meeting 
at this Bethel. I had never been there, and had 
not, at that time, learned the way to the place ; 
so I made an engagement to meet him at the 
Quincy Market. From some misunderstand- 
ing I did not meet my brother there, but through 



34 

many inquiries, of different parties, I at last 
found the Bethel, and entered while the meeting 
was progressing. When opportunity offered, I 
arose and addressed the assembly as follows : 
" With some difficulty I have found what is 
called Father Taylor's Bethel. I find it to be 
not only Father Taylor's Bethel, but the Lord's 
Bethel." To which remark Father Taylor re- 
plied, " O yes, brother ! He is here — for we 
know Him ! " Continuing my remarks for some 
few moments I took my seat, and when an 
opportunity opened I offered prayer. The meet- 
ing continued with great interest to the end, 
and before closing Father Taylor asked if any 
were present who desired prayers ; when an old 
sea-captain arose and asked prayers for himself, 
but added : " Mine is a hopeless case ! I think 
that there is no mercy for me." Father Taylor, 
bringing his hands together with a vim, cried 
out, " Don't say that, captain, for the Lord Jesus 
is a match for you ! Now, brethren, let us pray 
for this man !" and prayers were offered for the 
salvation of the captain, who submitted his will 
to God ; and before he left the Bethel he had 
found peace to his soul, and there was great 



35 

rejoicing among the people present. Before 
leaving, Father Taylor accosted me with, " Who 
are you, and where did you come from ? " I 
answering him that I came from Old Plymouth, 
he exclaimed, "What! where the Pilgrims 
landed?" I answered, "Yes." "Why!" said 
he ; "I didn't know that they raised such cedar 
down there — * red cedar ! " 

Soon after locating in Boston, I connected my- 
self with the First Christian Church of that 
city. I was very cordially received by them, 
and .found many warm-hearted workers in the 
cause which I so dearly loved — becoming 
acquainted with the pastor, Rev. Edward 
Edmands, and Bros. Trafton, Watson, Briggs, 
Balch, Witherell, and Stratton, whose views were 
in harmony with mine, " That Christian Char- 
acter shall be our test of fellowship, and the 
Bible our rule of faith and practice." 

A few years after my connection with this 
church and people, Rev. Bro. A. A. Williams 
was invited to hold a series of meetings with us, 
which, I am very happy to say, were crowned 



* My hair at that time being of a sandy color, probably called forth this 
last remark. 



36 



with success, as many were converted through 
his ministrations, and a number quickened in 
spirit, who had become somewhat cool and indif- 
ferent, apparently, to the cause of Christ. 

An incident worthy of relation happened in 
the vestry of this church during my presence at 
a service held there. A young man, a resi- 
dent of New York City, missed the train 
which he had intended to return home upon, 
and therefore was obliged to wait some two 
or more hours for the next one to leave 
the station of the Boston and Albany Rail- 
road. Wandering around up Kneeland Street, 
he chanced to pass near this vestry while a 
prayer-meeting was in progress. The congrega- 
tion were engaged in singing some good pieces, 
which attracted his attention to such an extent 
that he said to himself, " As I have no other 
place to go while waiting for my train, why is 
not this the spot for me to spend my time 
in ? It is a good place, and the singing very 
fine ; I will go in." He came in, and took a back 
seat.- The meeting was deeply interesting, and 
the young man was interested as well ; for when 
the pastor, Bro. Edmands, who led the meeting 



37 

at this time, before closing asked the question if 
there was any one present who desired their 
prayers, and would like to become a Christian — 
if there was to manifest it by rising up — at this 
the young man arose and stated the. case as I 
have just related it. That he was a stranger 
from New York City ; had missed the train and 
wandered in there, attracted thither by the fine 
singing ; that he had become deeply interested 
in the meeting, and would ask the prayers of 
the Christian brethren. Prayers were offered, 
he kneeling near the altar, by Bro. Watson and 
myself, and he broke out in prayer, and while 
there was converted to the blessed Jesus ! He 
arose and praised God for his goodness to him. 
The time arriving for him to take the train for 
New York, he left us ; but some eighteen months 
after this he entered the vestry one evening, 
arose, and asked if any one knew him. 
He said that he knew us all, and felt it his 
duty to give in his testimony for the Lord. 
He related how he had conducted himself since 
his first visit. That he had returned to New 
York, entered a church, connected himself there- 
with, attended Sabbath school, and was at the 



38 

time superintendent of that same school, and 
still going onward in this glorious cause, a 
happy man. " I would add a word or two in 
connection with your fine singing. Sing on ! as 
it was through those sweet notes, that attracted 
my attention and my presence to these meetings, 
I can praise God now for his goodness to me, 
and his keeping power through Jesus, my blessed 
Redeemer ; and with God's grace ever assisting 
me, I am determined to fight onward in the good 
fight of faith, and hope at last to merit the crown 
awaiting the faithful, and meet you all in the 
kingdom." 

In the year 1866 I became acquainted with 
Rev. C. D. Bradlee, of Boston, and assisted him 
in his revival meetings then being held at the 
Church of the Redeemer, on Concord Street. 
Bro. Bradlee has proved a firm friend, from my 
first acquaintance with him up to the present 
time — willing to assist me in everything for 
my best welfare. During this year I visited the 
City Hospital, Boston, and held meetings and 
distributed many tracts in the name of the Lord. 

In the year 1867, at the First Christian Church 
in Boston, I was ordained as an "evangelist," 



39 

in accordance with the instructions found in St. 
Mark, chapter xvi., verses 15 and 16. The 
following clergymen took part in the exercises : 
Rev. William P. Tilden, of South End Free 
Church, Boston ; Rev. Edward Edmands, First 
Christian Church, Boston ; Rev. Daniel P. Pike, 
First Christian Church, Newburyport ; Rev. 
Caleb D. Bradlee, Church of the Redeemer, Bos- 
ton ; Rev. S. B. Cruft, , Boston ; Rev. 

John Williams, Christian Unity, Boston ; Rev. 
Joseph E. Barry, Childrens' Mission, Boston. 
Rev. D. P. Pike preached the ordaining sermon, 
from this text, Rev., chapter i., verse 4 : " Which 
is, and which was, and which is to come." Rev. 
C. D. Bradlee offered the ordaining prayer, and 
the candidate pronounced the benediction. 

Since my ordination as a minister of the 
gospel I have supplied many pulpits, some of 
which I will name, and incidents therewith con- 
nected relate, hoping thereby to not only inter- 
est, but possibly to benefit the reader. 

At Lynn and Carlisle I supplied a few times, 
and these meetings were very, well attended, and 
much interest manifested. At Scituate Harbor 
I held a series of meetings in connection with 



40 

the Hanover Street Methodist Episcopal Church 
Praying Band, a Bro. Prescott being the leading 
spirit among them, but all were very zealous 
workers in the cause of Christ. My first inquiry 
was, Where can I be of the most service ? 
Where can I do the most good for the Master ? 
These questions I asked of a Bro. Elms who 
lived near the parsonage, and he answered : " I 
am afraid you will be insulted in your labors of 
love about here, as I don't know where I could 
introduce you that you wouldn't be insulted." 
Bro. Elms accompanied me a short distance, and 
soon met a sea-captain whom I was introduced 
to as a missionary who had come down there to 
do service for the Lord. This man threw up 
both hands, as though in great surprise, and 
exclaimed: "A missionary! down here to this 
town ! Why ! we are not Hottentots here, man, 
for I am a Parkerite, and I go to church every 
Sunday, and pay as I go ! " 

I went forward, and visited many times the 
factories, mills, and stores in this place. Meet- 
ings were held every evening for a number of 
weeks, and many were converted ; and in con- 
nection with these revival meetings I will say, 



41 

that at one of them our brother James Chubbuck 
was converted to God, and at the close of the 
meeting, with several of the brethren who were 
to lodge with him that night, returned to his 
home, and on entering the house began to sing 
the familiar hymn, " I am glad salvation is free," 
with a great deal of spirit. This aroused a 
brother of James, who had retired to his room in 
the upper part of the house. He arose from 
his bed, dressed, came down-stairs, and upon 
entering the room where the brethren were sing- 
ing, exclaimed, " Is this salvation free for me ? 
Can I have it now ? Pray for me ! " And 
upon our prayers being offered in his behalf, 
and he praying for himself, soon that "peace 
which passeth. all understanding" came to 
his waiting heart, and he became a rejoicing 
Christian, and is now an evangelist known 
by many as an earnest worker in the cause of 
Christ ! I believe that the labors of Bro. Daniel 
L. Chubbuck, in the Master's vineyard, are 
crowned with success at every point. May God 
bless him, is my prayer. One other item I will 
mention, and that is of a young man who, before 
he became converted, stated that he was afraid, 



if he did, he should be a shouter, and he didn't 
want to become that. But the night he sub- 
mitted his will to God, and became a converted 
man, when the invitation was given out for tes- 
timonies in the meeting, this man arose and 
cried out, " Glory to God ! I have found my 
Saviour, and henceforth I will try to lead a 
christian life. Hallelujah ! " 

Another was the case of a very influential 
young man, a brother, who had become some- 
what backward — prominent in the church, as 
well as in society — whom the pastor of his church 
desired us to see and converse with ; stating to 
us that, if this young man could be prevailed 
on to make a decided stand for God, it would 
open the way to a great revival in their midst. 
Upon our visiting from house to house, convers- 
ing and praying with the people, we came to the 
house of this young man, and entered at once 
upon the subject of full consecration to God's 
service. After some conversation with him, 
without much prospect of success, the two breth- 
ren who were with me departed for the vil- 
lage, while I tarried behind, still conversing 
with him. Before we parted I felt it a duty 



43 

to press the matter, and said to him, holding 
him by the hand, " Now, young man, from the 
position which you occupy in society, and the 
influence you exert over those around you, you 
may be the instrument of great good should 
you make a movement in this direction. Your 
pastor believes that others would follow, and 
that many souls might be saved. Now, sir,. will 
you pledge yourself before me, that you will take 
a decided stand for God to-day ? " He replied, 
" Mr. Thomas, if I pledge myself to do this, I 
shall have to preach — nothing less." I exclaimed, 
" My brother, if that is so, then by all means 
preach, and do God's bidding! " He said, " By 
the grace of God I will do it ! " and at the meet- 
ing in the evening he arose, and stated his purpose 
of becoming henceforward a servant of God. A 
few evenings after this a class was formed of quite 
a number of the members present — at the close 
of the meeting — and they voted to give Brother 
Bates an exhorter's license ; and since that time 
he has proved himself a faithful servant of God, 
and is at present a member of the Methodist 
Conference, in good standing. 

At Easton my labors were attended with sue- 



44 

cess. I formed a pleasing acquaintance with the 
pastor, Bro. Washborn, and his family, where I 
stopped during my visit. I preached one Sun- 
day at Stoughton, and supplied the pulpit several 
Sabbaths at Taunton, also a Sabbath at Truro. 
At Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Bro. Prescott and 
myself visited, finding the church in rather a cold 
state. We held our first meeting on a Saturday 
evening, which quite a number attended. On the 
Sabbath afternoon I filled the pulpit, taking for my 
subject " Prayer." Great interest was mani- 
fested. In the evening, at the social meeting, 
some thirty people arose for prayers. The work 
of the Lord had surely begun ! and, with the help 
which Bro. Prescott gave, and had sent forward, 
the work continued, and the church revived and 
strengthened. And, for a number of years, it 
continued in that state. 

Another incident which I will relate, hoping 
to benefit some one thereby, happened in my 
presence one morning, while attending a prayer- 
meeting held by the Young Men's Christian 
Association, at their rooms, then located in the 
old Tremont Temple building, Boston. The 
services were led on this occasion by a Bro. 



45 

Tilden, ex-president of the Association. A 
young man by the name of Folger entered, 
became very much interested in the meeting, and 
near the close, when Bro. Tilden asked the 
usual question, if there was any one present 
who desired the prayers of christians, this 
young man arose, and requested prayers then and 
there. Bro. Tilden and myself went to his side, 
and made inquiries of him concerning his spiritual 
welfare. In. reply to our questions, he remarked, 
" I have had the black flag of rebellion floating 
at the mast-head long enough ; and I now am de- 
termined to haul it down, and hoist in its place, 
forever more, the blood-stained banner of the 
Lord Jesus Christ ! " He desired to give up all 
for Jesus then. We offered prayer, he submitted 
his will to God, and before leaving the building 
he had received that peace of heart which the 
world cannot give nor take away, and had become 
a rejoicing Christian. He stated that he was a 
law student, and was soon to be admitted to the 
bar. But shortly after this he gave up his law 
studies, entered the school located on Bromfield 
street, Boston, to study for the ministry, and 
after a while received an appointment in New 



4 6 



Hampshire or Vermont to preach the gospel. In 
time he proved himself a great worker, of the 
Methodist denomination, uniting a church more 
closely together, which had had a tendency to be 
inharmonious in its actions. A revival of 
religion followed, and a great work was done 
in the up-building of God's Kingdom. He 
proved himself true to the cause of the Master ; 
but while yet quite young in years, God called 
him home from his field of labor. 

In the year 1873 I was chosen as one of the 
committee to lay out camp grounds at Centreville 
for the Christian denomination. That duty hav- 
ing been performed satisfactorily by this com- 
mittee, on the first of August of that year our first 
camp-meeting was held, and it continued for one 
week. Three preaching services were held daily, 
forenoon, afternoon, and evening. Prayer-meet- 
ings at sunrise, at nine o'clock each morning, 
and at six o'clock each evening. It now being 
called the Christian Camp-Meeting Association, 
they have continued these meetings every year 
since, in like manner, and been greatly blessed 
in their efforts to do good. At the present time 
there is erected upon these grounds fifty or 



47 

more cottages, and two large hotels, it becom- 
ing a famous resort for travellers and seekers of 
health. Great improvements are continually being 
made, many in the past year, 1880. A house for 
the accommodation of ministers has been erected, 
which is considered to be a great achievement. 
The sun-rise prayer-meetings, which have been 
alluded to, were instigated by myself, and the 
name given to me, of the sun-rise preacher. 
Every year, since the formation of the camp, 
these sun-rise meetings have been held. Also, 
at all our conferences and conventions, " Father 
Thomas " opens and conducts these sun-rise 
prayer-meetings, and has done so for many years 
back. They have resulted in great spiritual good. 
For a number of years past I have been a 
missionary at large among the poor of Boston 
and its immediate vicinity, going about doing 
good wherever I could ; relieving cases of desti- 
tution, which came under my care, as far as lay 
in my power so to do, with God's help. I have 
visited and assisted very many destitute families 
No worthy case has been neglected during all. 
these years by me. For the past seven years I 
have been a resident of Cambridgeport, and at 



. 48 

one time was employed for the space of three 
months, by the superintendent of the Sabbath- 
school connected with the Broadway Baptist 
Church, to gather in children for this school — 
children who did not attend any other on the Sab- 
bath. I have visited as many as sixty families 
in a day, for this object. I have also become ac- 
quainted with many good Christian workers of 
other denominations, attending their several 
meetings and worshipping with them, being re- 
ceived in all kindness by them. An incident 
worth relating, and one which will, perhaps, in- 
terest the reader somewhat, occurred since my 
acquaintance with the Methodist people of Cam- 
bridgeport. I was offered, and accepted the use 
of the vestry connected with the Harvard-street 
church, Rev. Mr. Huntington pastor, on the oc- 
casion of my golden wedding, which took place 
on the evening of the 28th of May, 1879. 

The following is copied from the Old Colony 
Memorial, of Plymouth, dated June 5, 1879 : 

" The fiftieth anniversary of the wedded life 
of Rev. George N. Thomas and wife, for- 
merly of Plymouth, was celebrated in Cam- 
bridgeport, Massachusetts, on Wednesday even- 



49 

ing, the 28th ultimo, in the vestry of the Harvard- 
street Methodist Episcopal church, over one 
hundred of their friends being present. The 
reverend gentleman is everywhere known as 
' Father Thomas,' and his duties, those of a 
city missionary for the past twenty years, in and 
about Boston, have been richly rewarded. Of 
puritanic blood, he inherits the generosity and 
steadfastness which the pilgrim fathers were 
famous for. His age is seventy- two, and that of 
his companion seventy-four years. He has four 
sons, twelve grand-children, and two great-grand- 
children, all living within a radius of fifty miles. 
The services were conducted by the Rev. Caleb 
D. Bradlee, of the Harrison-square Unitarian 
church, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Manchester, of 
Providence, Rhode Island, fast friends of the 
couple. The singing was conducted in a very able 
manner, by Henry W. Kimball, Esq., of the 
Boston Young Men's Christian Association, 
with Miss Martha Wyman, of Cambridgeport, 
as pianist. Every one joined heartily in it. 
About fifty dollars, in gold and silver coin, 
with a sprinkling of greenbacks, were given the 
happy couple, and their faces glowed with cheer- 



5o 

fulness. After the singing arid praise service, 
the company were invited to partake of a colla- 
tion, prepared and presided over by Mr. Thomas' 
son, Nathaniel H., and wife, which invitation was 
accepted, and old times were rehearsed to a late 
hour. Below is given a poem arranged by the 
Rev. C. D. Bradlee :— 

" Just fifty years ago this day, 

Two hearts were joined in one; 
They asked their God to guide their way, 
Through Jesus Christ, the Son. 

" With truth and peace, with faith and love, 
Thev pledged their life and hand; 
And, strengthened by the voice above, 
United they did stand. 

" So hour by hour, and year by year 
Held up, by mighty grace, 
In doubt and joy, in cloud and fear, 
They kept a truthful face. 

" Though fifty years have rolled along, 
Behold ! the two are here ! 
Still safe and true, still brave and strong, 
And to each other clear. 

" O God, we thank Thee, Thou hast spared 
Thy children to this night ; 
That they so long Thy love have shared 
And found their lives so bright. 

" Still keep them in Thy holy care, 
Still bless their hearts with peace. 
And oh! for bliss their souls prepare, 
When earthly times shall cease." 



5i 

The Memorial also gives an account of a 
family reunion which was held in Plymouth in 
the fall of the year 1878, which I will copy as 
follows : 

"FAMILY REUNION. 

"A family gathering of a very interesting na- 
ture, was held at the residence of Mr. Nelson 
Holmes, on Tuesday evening, October 22d. 

" Three brothers and three sisters, children of 
the late Joab and Lois Thomas, met with a 
number of the neighbors, and celebrated the 
event by religious services, under the lead of the 
elder brother, George Nelson Thomas, of Boston, 
a city missionary, familiarly known in the mar- 
ketmen's meetings as Father Thomas. The 
united ages of the brothers and sisters is 387 
years, Father Thomas being nearly seventy-two 
years old. All are members of churches, and on 
this occasion enjoyed a season of much spiritual 
and fraternal refreshment." 

An incident I will relate of " trusting in the 
word of God " will interest the reader. One 
morning I left my home in Cambridgeport with 
but thirty-two cents in my pocket, and my wife 
had requested mc to buy some groceries, and 



52 

bring home. Upon reaching the city I was ac- 
costed by two Christian men. One I had assisted 
with funds a few days before, and he now, upon 
seeing me, introduced me to his companion, who 
was a neighbor of his, and had left home that 
morning without food in the house. He had a 
wife and three children to care for, and had had no 
work for a fortnight. It was a worthy case ; I felt 
that it was true ; and, with the pangs of hunger 
upon the poor fellow, what could I do but put 
my hand into my pocket? Taking out twenty 
cents I passed it to him, telling him to buy him- 
self and family some food. Passing on my way, 
a thought crossed my mind that I had acted 
unwisely, in giving away money which I needed 
myself to buy groceries for my home ; but 
this passage of scripture immediately after came 
to my mind : " Trust in the Lord and do good, 
so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou 
shalt be fed." I said Amen ! to that, and soon 
after called at the Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation, corner of Tremont and Eliot Streets, 
Boston, which I am accustomed to visit quite 
frequently. Sometimes my mail-matter is ad- 
dressed to the care of the Association, and was 



53 

at this time, as will be seen. As I entered the 
room the assistant secretary spoke to me, saying, 
" Father Thomas, here is a letter for you ; " and 
handing it to me, requested me to take a seat in 
the office to read it. Upon opening the letter, 
out dropped a five dollar bill ! My heart was 
filled with gratitude, my eyes with tears, and I 
could but say Amen ! How good the Lord was 
to me, as, by trusting in God, verily I should be 
fed. 

Another incident worthy of record is that of 
a poor widow, who was a prey to consumption, 
and very destitute. I was requested to visit at 
a miserable hovel on Federal Street, in Boston. 
Entering, I found the poor woman sick with 
consumption, as had been represented to me, 
and burdened with the care of one child, a little 
boy about seven years of age, sick with scrofula. 
I took the case in hand at once, and did my best 
to alleviate their sufferings by first calling upon 
Supt. Cutler, of the City Hospital, whom I was 
acquainted with intimately, and stating to him 
that I was desirous of this boy's admittance to 
the hospital for treatment. The proper permit 
was obtained, and the boy admitted. He re- 



54 

mained in the hospital for some twelve months, 
under treatment which proved somewhat suc- 
cessful, and at the end of that time he came 
out, and I placed him in charge of Dr. Cullis, at 
the Children's Home, then in Willard Street, 
Boston. For the mother, during this time, I 
had obtained a place at the Consumptives' 
Home, in charge of Dr. Cullis ; she there receiv- 
ing proper care, and likewise free medicines, for 
the space of three weeks or more, when she 
became rather dissatisfied with the treatment 
received, desiring to return to her former abode, 
for the reason that she could get her allowance of 
whiskey daily, which would not be permitted at 
the Consumptives' Home ; and she left this insti- 
tution rather abruptly. She returned to her old 
abode, and after some months' lingering in this 
miserable, filthy place, she died. An uncle, who 
had arrived in Boston, on a visit from California, 
left the means to provide a proper burial for her, 
and returned before her decease. 

The mother dying, it left the boy in the care 
of his grandfather, a dissipated old man, whom 
the child disliked very much as a guardian ; and 
he had no desire to return to him. The time 



55 



having come when some action must be taken as 
to the proper course to pursue, and I myself being 
very much interested in the welfare of the lad, 
I decided to adopt him if I could do so. And 
so, calling upon the old man, the boy's grand- 
father, one day, I asked if I might have the 
boy to adopt as my own, and he replied : " I 
would rather you had him than any other man ! 
and if you will get me a New Testament, with 
the Psalms therein, and an Episcopal prayer- 
book, you may take him ; " adding further, that 
he had resolved to become a better man, and lead a 
different life. I told him he should have the arti- 
cles desired at once, and I set about procuring 
them for him. I went to St. Stephen's Home, 
then on Purchase Street, in Boston, in charge 
of Rev. E. M. P. Wells, and was ushered into 
the presence of that old gentleman. When 
entering the Home, my eyes met this motto : 
" Jesus Christ is Master of this House!' Rev. 
Bro. Wells inquired my business, and, informing 
him that I had come to him, a stranger though I 
was, to procure the afore-mentioned books for 
a man who had a purpose to reform, he replied 
that I should have them ; at the same time plac- 



$6 



ing in my hand the required books, also a large 
number of cards, on which was printed : 

" If any person is in need of a meal, and has 
no money to pay for it, send him to my Home. 

" If any person is in need of a night's lodging, 
and has no money to pay for it, send him to 
my Home. 

" If any person out of work wants to find some 
employment, and has been unsuccessful, send 
him to my Home. 

" Any person or family found destitute send 
to me." 

I saw at once that that motto was of a 
truth properly placed, for yesus Christ was 
surely Master of that house. And I have wit- 
nessed, on many cold winter mornings since, a 
line of poor men, thirty or more in number, 
filing into this Home for their breakfasts. 

After leaving the Home I proceeded to the 
house of the grandfather, and presented him with 
the books ; and, as I had provided myself with 
the legal papers for adopting the boy, I at this 
time obtained his signature, giving up all claim 
upon the child. I left him in good-humor, and 
some two years after this old man passed away. 



57 

The boy is living at the present time, and is 
quite a young man ; in the employ of Dr. Cullis, 
at his Home in Grove Hall, Dorchester. 

In after years this brother, Rev. Mr. Wells, 
was a good old friend to me, and continued so 
from the first to the last, he passing to his rest 
about two years ago. 

As has been stated, I am pretty well known 
at the marketmen's noon-day prayer-meetings, 
which are held daily in Boston, between the 
houns of twelve and one o'clock, at No. 53 Black- 
stone, corner of North Street. I am about to 
relate some incidents connected therewith. It 
has been my privilege several times to conduct 
them — with the help of the Lord — and I have 
witnessed great good done there, and received 
spiritual benefit mvself. These daily prayer-meet- 
ings have been continued for the past four years, 
with some grand results. Upwards of a hundred 
persons, both male and female, have been con- 
verted, and many of them are active workers in 
the cause of the Master at the present time. One 
of these meetings was led by the Rev. G. F. Pen- 
tecost, who made the subject of his talk the sixth 
verse of the second chapter of I. Peter, combined 



58 



with the sixteenth verse of the twenth-eighth 
chapter of Isaiah, showing Christ not only a foun- 
dation but a precious corner-stone, and the neces- 
sity of a soul being built upon this stone. This 
thought was made the spirit of the meeting, espe- 
cially by Mrs. Thomas, in describing a vision of 
heaven she saw when she was, at one time, 
on the border between life and death ; and by 
a Swedish girl, picturing the fervent love of 
Christ going out to her wretched soul, with 
pardoning mercy. At this meeting Mr. Stebbins 
led the singing, and presided at the organ. 

The Rev. Mr. Pratt, an evangelist, led a series 
of these meetings in the winter of 1879-80, and 
they were highly interesting and of power. He 
was assisted in his labors by Mr. and Mrs. Wil- 
son, who conducted the singing, which was 
always spirited and pleasing to all. One of 
these meetings, held in December, my youngest 
son attended. Now father and mother — as well 
as very many of their Christian friends — had been 
praying for the conversion of this son for these 
many years, without their prayers being answered 
until this day. At the close of the meeting, as 
the assembly was passing out, my son was 



59 

accosted by an active worker in the cause — 
of whom I will speak further on — and, after 
considerable conversation upon the subject of his 
spiritual welfare, he made a decision to submit 
his will to God, and did so then and there, for 
many prayers were offered in his behalf, he cry- 
ing out, " God be merciful to me, a sinner ! " 
" Give me a clean heart, O God, and renew 
within me a right spirit ! " seeking for light as 
commanded, and at last finding that peace and 
joy there is to the believing heart, which the 
world knows not of — and can neither give nor 
take away ! Praise his holy name ! Jesus heard 
and answered his supplications ! He became a 
new man, for " old things " did pass away, " and 
all things became new." "For whereas he was 
once blind, he then saw ; " and he is at the present 
time a rejoicing, happy Christian, with a deter- 
mination — God's grace assisting him — to hold 
fast to the end. Now the sequel to this conver- 
sion is this ; I believe it with all faith. On the 
day before my son visited this meeting, his 
mother had pleaded his case on her knees at her 
bedside, praying that the Lord would convict and 
convert him, if he entered such a meeting. 



6o 



When she arose from her knees she felt that 
her prayer was answered ; and when, upon the 
next day, she heard the glad news of her son's 
conversion, she said : " I knew it ! for I received 
the evidence yesterday that my prayer was not 
in vain ; and I am thankful to my Saviour for his 
loving kindness to me." 

So it is true that " the prayers of the righteous 
availeth much." And we shall continue our 
prayers in behalf of our three remaining sons, 
hoping that our supplications will not be in vain 
in their cases, and that all, as one family, will at 
last meet around the mercy seat, to love and 
praise God forever and ever. 

The brother whom I have just referred to was 
an expressman by occupation, and at one time 
what is termed "a hard boy," addicted to the 
use of strong drinks, and with other evil habits as 
well ; but he was converted to God at one of 
these meetings, and became a great worker 
for the Master, wherever he was. He is at the 
present time out in the far West, preaching the 
gospel, and meeting with great success in the 
work ; and may the dear Lord bless the efforts 
of this good brother, Rev. A. A. Wilcox, and 






6i 



guide and direct him by His grace and counsel 
through life, giving him many souls ; and at last 
bring him to the better land, where a crown of 
stars will be in waiting for him, is my humble 
prayer to God. 

I will say, in my concluding remarks upon 
these meetings, if the reader has not visited 
them it would be worth the time spent in doing 
so, and he would receive great benefit therefrom. 

This question presented itself to me a short 
time ago : What good have I ever done in the 
world ? Have I been trying to do my duty, to 
the best of my ability, or otherwise ? The answer 
came to me in this manner : " Have you forgotten 
the letter received by you some years ago, from 
a gentleman in Iowa, who wrote you that, at one 
time, when in the streets of the city of New 
Bedford, you accosted him, and conversed with 
him upon the subject of religion ; and that some 
time after this he became converted to the Lord 
Jesus, located himself in business in the West, 
and sent you this information, thanking you for 
your interest in him, and saying that he had two 
farms in the state of Iowa, situated upon what is 
known as Skunk River ; and, if Bro. Thomas 



62 

would come out there and engage in the relig- 
ious work with him, he would make him a pres- 
ent of one of them ? " I answered, " No ; I 
remember that offer." So I have been the instru- 
ment in God's hands, of doing a little good in 
my day, and hope to do still more. 



wfe 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



Elder George N. Thomas, 



MISSIONARY TO THE POOR. 



BOSTON: 

PRESS OF DELAND AND BARTA, 

ioi Milk Street. 

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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